Blue Oval goes back to the boxy ’80s

Around 800 Ford cars made their way to the Blue Oval’s spiritual home in Geelong, Victoria to be on show for the 2020 All Ford Day (February 16).

The 29th running of Australia’s premier Ford event was held in the confines of Sutcliffe Reserve on the outskirts of 'Geetroit', where weather prior to the event conspired to make conditions challenging, with mud the order of the day.

That didn’t deter thousands of fans turning out to see a wonderful range of old and new Fords being displayed, and given this year’s 1980s theme there were plenty of pristine examples of boxy models from that decade on show.

Some will suggest this was a period when cars were perhaps more utilitarian than pretty, but time has been good to the XD, XE and XF Falcon and the smaller Telstars and Meteors that were ubiquitous around Australia at the time.

Indeed, everyone has a story about these cars and that folklore has built a steady following for cars of the time. It’s important to note that it was also a period in which Ford Australia was flying.

It may have taken Ford 22 years to knock Holden off the podium as Australia’s top-selling car brand, but in 1982 the Falcon beat the Commodore and went on to hold top-spot honours for the next seven years.

But really, whoever foresaw an XD Falcon becoming a highly sought-after classic? After all, they were 10-deep at wreckers across this wide brown land not so long ago.

Well, try and get hold of a manual 351 XD of any reasonable description now. They have all been run into the ground. Bent-eights are the big-ticket item, but more garden-variety examples are running up the classic fun car charts.

Indeed, they are now highly collectable and have established a steadfast following, as evidenced by the large number that turned out yesterday.

Incongruity aside, the sight of a GT40 rubbing fenders with Phil Aaron’s pretty tidy 1982 XD Falcon S Pack has become the norm. He really stood no chance. The Blue Oval affliction was hereditary.

“My father worked for Ford when I was young. He was sales manager at a couple of dealerships and he dabbled in racing in an XW,” he said.

But why an XD?

“I try to find cars that have a bit of history and I could tell that this has been with one family. It’s original and fairly untouched.”

Phil’s love carries him through the week as well.

“This is my driver’s car, I get around in it all time,” he adds.

Revellers were treated to an array of trade stands, with all sorts of Ford gear on display and for sale. But the cars were the stars, and just about every type of Ford was there. Utes, panel vans, pick-ups, race cars, police cars, commercials, street machines, drag cars… You name it.

From an original T Model that was on loan from the Geelong Motoring Museum to a replica of the Greens-Tuf XE that Dick Johnson so elegantly tossed into the eucalypts while trying a little too hard for pole position on Conrod Straight back in the Spring of 1983.

Small Fords were well represented, with Escorts, Cortinas and newer models of the Focus RS ilk dominant.

Clubs of all varieties were set up in designated areas and cars were judged in their various model grouping. Trophies were handed out to many of those that found the wherewithal to withstand the mud. I was not one of them in my 1975 Escort. On either count.

A very tidy De Tomaso Pantera took pride of place. ‘At a Ford event?’ the less tragic may well ask. Of course, the Italian thoroughbred wasn’t actually as pure of pedigree as it may appear, using a mid-mounted 351 Cleveland V8. The American connection is furthered by the fact the car was originally designed by American-born Ghia designer Tom Tjaarda.

Also heavily represented was the polarising EB GT of 1992, with four or five standouts on display. Values are creeping up for the heavily body-kitted beast. It will be a collector, a wise head at the All Ford Day informed me.

“If you can find a good one, buy it,” was the smart word from a key member of the GT Club. And its credentials were pretty good. The 5.0litre powerplant claimed a healthy 200kW at 5250rpm and a torque figure of 420Nm at 4000. Top speed was around 230km/h and the standing quarter was achieved in 15.2sec. Good numbers indeed.

While the venue could do with a rethink, the 2020 All Ford Day 2020 was well patronised. Organisers suggest they are already working on the 2021 event designed to attract an even bigger turnout.